Price trap?

nozh2002

nozh2002

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I found myself in very interesting psycological trap. In time I saw knives I bought while ago and see that my impression is different then initial. And most interesting is that my initial impression was more excited the more I paid for the knife.

I think I was afraid to admit to myself that I probably overpay for this or that knife and more I afraid in the deep of my heart more I try to hide it from myself by pumping my excitement.

For example Buck 882 - was like so so so cool, but now I see that it has too thin liner lock and it is relatively easy to make it fail, plus plastic handle is not too good really. But after my several hours trip to the Okland and paying for this plastic handle knife with weak liner more then a $110 I was not able to admit for myself that it was not matching price and effort I take - so I try to convince myself how this knife is JUST SUPER COOL...

And ther are some other buys I did and act this way. It is really hard to avoid this trap, I guess.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I hope my curren excitement with ZT302 is different nature - really there is no any failures, it is just perfect...

This psycology can make you loose joy of life, ease, can't it?

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I've overpayed for stuff in the past and bought crap because it was cheaper than the real deal. It's not a big deal. I'm trying to learn from it and do research before buying anything now. Spending $30 or even more then you should doesn't feel good, but its not worth loosing too much sleep over.

Also, alot of people talk about the "great deal" they got to sound more important then they are, you got your big tv for $2000 they got their's for free.

Take it easy.

ps: are you Greek by any chance?
 
I am Russian.

Point is that with overpriced knife I have tendency to see it much better then it is, just because it is hard to admit that I did overpay. And I guess it is not only me...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
I am Russian.

Point is that with overpriced knife I have tendency to see it much better then it is, just because it is hard to admit that I did overpay. And I guess it is not only me...

Thanks, Vassili.
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Many times one find himself in situation when he looks at his $150 knife and asks himself: where is additional $130 over $20 Byrd?
In fact, any knife over $20 is overpriced and waste of money. That's why it is called hobby or passion :) instead of investing :p

Take it from better viewpoint: what's $100 compared to $40,000,000 spent on yacht like any of these? :D :thumbup:
 
I try to wait for a knife to be out for quite a while, like over a year, just so I can read about it first good and back.

I did sign up for the Buck Mayo 172 when it first came out at about $200. So I over payed a abit. I've gotten several good deals on BF so that more then makes up for it.
 
Hey Vassili,

Don't freak out man. I did the same thing with my Spyderco Military after it was all said and done I bought from my local shop because I like the people there and was pumped up over how cool the knife was. I ended up paying alot more than you should for the knife and the whole way home I think dang I got screwed. But it happens to everybody believe me anyone on this forum who hasn't made a stupid knife purchase wouldn't be posting on a knife board.
 
I have had the same experience more than I like to admit. Not just with knives but watches, binoculars, boots, etc. I think when one has a strong interest in a class of products and becomes knowledgeable and discriminating, there is a tendency to start a collection for purposes of comparison. For collectors, initial enthusiasm often outweighs long term satisfaction. Sometimes there are second thoughts about price. It is almost unavoidable.

One can learn from mistakes. But it is self defeating to look back with an overcritical focus.

'Caveat Emptor' Let the Buyer Beware.

Good advice, not so easily followed. Still, the collection grows, certain models come and go and for hard core enthusiasts, the interest continues.
 
The price paid definitely matters in terms of your expectations, I have the same Buck Knife, the Tarani 882 in ATS 34, but I got it during a Buck factory sale for a very reduced price.

My first impression is pretty much still the same , I like the design and I am very happy with the purchase. But I would not be as happy if I paid $100.00 for it. ( for the reasons you mention)
Using Benchmade knives as a comparison, they are on a different level of fit and finish in that price range.

Now I also have a Buck Alpha Hunter in ATS34 and to me that is a bargain at the $60.00 street price. ( and that liner is still a little thin)

I haven't made really big mistakes in terms of over paying , but I have bought knives and later on have said to myself "what was I thinking?"
 
Not me. The price is inconsequential to me. If I get a knife that I don't think measures up, I return it in exchange for another.
 
Up here, the prices get really high so when a bargain appears...:) I'm getting better at the price thing - I used to think "that's waaayyy too much" and then miss the joy of owning one I really wanted. Now, if one that intriques me pop up, I will simply buy it. I still do shop a bit, but on certain blades, I don't want to wait either. Especially the more expensive ones. I think the Spydie Caly3 was the first one in a long time that actually ordered online that was over $150 CDN. Yes, I could have got it a lot cheaper stateside, but it also may have got seized - not worth the risk, and more important I have it in my hot little hands:D No regrets on what I paid - to me, it was worth it. Realistically, it cost way more than that - while I was waiting, I got an Adventura, Jess Horn, Police, a Langoulie plus some other kit stuff:) I recently found one of the new ZDP Delicas up here as well - EDC'ing it as I write:)

- gord
 
I have the inverse problem - hunting for incredible bargains. I bought the 887 with 420H blade for $60 thinking it was really really cool - a Strider for less. The replacement from Idaho convinced me to stick to my list of features that will help guarantee better performance - and getting my money's worth. That liner lock is really thin - thinner than my cheap import knives. I call it my delayed action closer - any pressure at all and I know what it will do.

So I searched for the real thing and got one for slightly less than retail, which is hard enough in the market right now. But it was a bargain!
 
I think they call this cognitive dissonance, Vassili (or that's what I seem to remember my psychologist girlfriend calling it.) Basically it means our subconscious minds try to rationalize what we do.

You: "Why did I pay so much for this knife when I really don't see how it's any better?"

Mind: "Because it must be better and you just don't see it yet. And it must be more prestigious."

Since getting involved with BFC more actively I've become much more performance oriented, and also understand much better what real knife performance is and how to judge it for myself. Frankly there are a whole lot of knives that are grossly overpriced based on their performance and value as tools. I've even sold off nearly all of an expensive blade collection for this reason. Give me a $12 Mora over an expensive collector piece that just sits in a safe, or some over-hyped tactical prybar any day.
 
"Cognitive dissonance" - cool, thanks. This is it. And I guess if somebody ask me same question I will came up with same answer to. And If somebody try to destroy my carefully builded "Cognitive dissonance", I probably will be very abset, and when outsider stay on the my reasonable side it will require for my excited side be even more excited...

Actually there are a lot of examples like this all around - I guess this is just human nature. But I will watch carefully if see somebody being overexcited.

However, timeto time I have reverse situation! Same manufacturer Buck and model 880SP. I did not expect this knife to be so good! That was nice surprize, it looks kind of simple, but with this look it is not so simple at all and very comfortable, high quality etc... Same I experienced with Kershaw Avalanche - I was just curios about stee, but then found out that it is actually very good knife by itself...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Good thread! We've all done it.:mad: :thumbdn: :eek:

It is said that a smart man learns from his mstakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

I love this forum because it allows me to learn from the mistakes others have made, and share my mistakes with everyone else.

(Does that makle me wise?:confused: or just a wise-ass?)

Ben
 
I bought the same Buck 882 at a shop and paid more for it then I could have gotten it on line but i got it quicker. The liner does look thin but it engages very secure. It is the stiffest liner lock I've ever used. But I love the g10 and the handle shape. It feels so good in my hand with those grooves in the top of the blade and handle. I rotate this knife into my EDC all the time. The only knife I own that is easier to open is my BM 710. Heck it's made of great steel with a Boss heat treat and they aren't going to make them anymore! I'm glad I got one. No regreats!

Don't be so hard on yourself. Everybody can learn from their mistakes.
 
GLively said:
I bought the same Buck 882 at a shop and paid more for it then I could have gotten it on line but i got it quicker. The liner does look thin but it engages very secure. It is the stiffest liner lock I've ever used. But I love the g10 and the handle shape. It feels so good in my hand with those grooves in the top of the blade and handle. I rotate this knife into my EDC all the time. The only knife I own that is easier to open is my BM 710. Heck it's made of great steel with a Boss heat treat and they aren't going to make them anymore! I'm glad I got one. No regreats!

Don't be so hard on yourself. Everybody can learn from their mistakes.
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This weaken liner lock is just dangerous. Try to easy hit opened and locked knife at spine and it will close. You may even close it without unlocking without too much pressure...

But I am not crying out loud about money spent on 882, of course. I had similar experience with different knives. My point is that it is hard to avoid this kind of psychologcal trap called - "Cognitive dissonance", when I overpay for knife and it make me see it as perfection even it is not and more dissonance between price and real coast is, more emotion I put to convince myself that it is just perfect.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
This weaken liner lock is just dangerous. Try to easy hit opened and locked knife at spine and it will close. You may even close it without unlocking without too much pressure...

But I am not crying out loud about money spent on 882, of course. I had similar experience with different knives. My point is that it is hard to avoid this kind of psychologcal trap called - "Cognitive dissonance", when I overpay for knife and it make me see it as perfection even it is not and more dissonance between price and real coast is, more emotion I put to convince myself that it is just perfect.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

Yes I see your point, and sometimes I'll ask myself if a knife I've bought for $75 or $100 is really any better than a knife I paid $30 for.

But other times I'll get one and even over time it still seems like perfection.

One example is my Camillus Dominator, I just looked it over in response to another thread and it still looks like "perfection". Also most everything I've ever bought from Benchmade, particularly the Gravitator and Resistor....
 
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